Working with young people with learning disabilities

“Without DIY young people with a Learning Disability wouldn’t have the opportunity to learn or grow in a creative and independent way. We wouldn’t challenge social norms of what people with a Learning Disability can do and if we don’t challenge the system the world does not change, and we cannot grow or move on.” Di Critchley, Development Officer, Salford CC

Photo: Arts in the box

DIY runs a range of projects and workshops with children and young people with learning disabilities. We have extensive experience of running Discover, Explore, Bronze and Silver Arts Award projects with young people which open up new opportunities for young people with learning disabilities to:

  • Gain an Arts Award
  • Gain leadership and creative skills
  • Develop life skills such as communication and decision-making
  • Increase confidence, sense of achievement and ambition
  • Evidence and celebrate achievements

We helped 58 young people to achieve a Bronze or Silver Arts Award in 2018.

logo for DIY's Passing the Baton

‘Passing the Baton’ is our exciting new project looking at provision for young people with Learning Disabilities in Salford.

With three years funding (2019-21) from The National Lottery Community Fund, Passing the Baton will provide exciting new opportunities for young people with Learning Disabilities in Salford.
The funding will allow us to develop our Young Leader’s programme which works specifically with those in transition from formal education into adulthood developing leadership skills and confidence.

Two new and exciting developments are our Young Leaders Group and Youth Drama Club:

Young Leaders Group

A DIY & You Can Youth Club partnership.

Visit You Can’s website to find out more about our partner organisation.

This group is an opportunity for young people to develop their leadership skills and gain confidence in their own ideas. We will also be working towards an Arts Award qualification.

The Young Leaders Group is open to young people with disabilities aged 16+.

Starting in September 

Day: Monday evenings

Times: 5.30pm to 7.30pm

Venue: Beacon Centre, 6 London Street, Salford M6 6QT

 

To find out more please email Hebe at project.diytheatre@gmail.com.

 

photo of our first Young Leaders - Adam, Hannah, Amy and Charlotte

Passing the Baton’s first Young Leaders – Adam, Hannah, Amy and Charlotte

Drama Club

A DIY & You Can Youth Club partnership. A core part of DIY’s Passing the Baton programme is developing partnerships with local schools, colleges and voluntary youth organisations.

Visit You Can’s website to find out more about our partner organisation.

We launched DIY Theatre & You Can’s Drama Club in Summer of 2019 and it  has been brilliant!!  Young people have had lots of fun (and giggles) creating new friendships, building confidence and creating dramatic scenes!

Drama Club is open to young people with disabilities aged 11 to 25 years old.

Returning in September 

Day: Tuesday evenings

Times: 5.30pm to 7pm

Venue: Beacon Centre, 6 London Street, Salford M6 6QT

 

To find out more please email Hebe at project.diytheatre@gmail.com.

Photo of DIY's Young Leader, Hannah delivering an Arts Award Project

Hannah, one of DIY’s Young Leaders, helps to deliver a Seaside Themed Arts Award Project

Schools Outreach Projects

Working in partnership with local schools enables DIY to connect with children and young adults.

During 2019 DIY’s Young Leaders have worked with:

  • Chatsworth Futures – here we enjoyed delivering a six week Discover Arts Award Project on the theme of ‘Seaside!’ using sensory theatre techniques.
  • Chatsworth High School – working with Year 10 & 11 students. Our Young Leaders supported the students to develop their Music & Leadership skills, including delivering a music workshop to younger students as part of ‘ChatsFest!’ Music Festival. We had a lovely time.
  • Springwood Primary School – delivering sensory theatre workshops on the theme of Space. We also supported students with their Explore Arts Award.

Four of our Young Leaders have completed their Arts Award Advisor Training which means they are now qualified to deliver Discover and Explore projects.

If you would like DIY to come to your school, please email Hebe at project.diytheatre@gmail.com.

 

What young people say about DIY’s projects with young people with learning disabilities:

I would like to do more drama because I’ve become more confident. When I very first started drama I was very shy. And I just seen it and I just joined in and I got more confident.

I get making new friends and learning new skills, like how to communicate with people that have different disabilities and how to work with people that might find drama a little bit hard.

I’d like to do more drama because it can help people through if they’re having a bad day or if they just want to look at situations where they might find it hard in their day to day life.

The DIY Guide to Leading it . . . Our way!

Arts participation and leadership with young people with learning disabilities.

This guide aims to share ideas and examples gained through our work with young people. It is not offered as a ‘How to do Arts Award’ guide, but rather a way of sharing a few of the ideas and activities which have worked well for us. We hope you find some of our approaches useful in developing your own projects.

Link to Leading it Our Way booklet